[Reversing effect of retinoic acid on some phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line].

Reversing effect of retinoic acid (RA) on some phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line was studied. It was found that the growth of SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line was markedly inhibited when cultured in 10 mumol/L RA. Morphology of cells treated with RA reversed to normal when observed under light and electron microscopes and by image analysis. The 3H-TdR incorporation declined. By flow cytometry, it was observed that cells in G0/G1 phase increased from 49.6% to 59.1%, whereas cells in S or G2 + M phase decreased from 50.4% to 40.9% after 3-day RA treatment. The major distribution of chromosomes changed from 48-56 to 44-50 with an increase in diploid (from 4% to 15%). The results indicate that RA could reverse some phenotypes of human hepatocarcinoma cell line.